Underwater glider retrieval using an autonomous surface vehicle

In June 2009, Memorial University of Newfoundland began a project involving multiple disciplines of its Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science exposing students to the many aspects of autonomous vehicle development. Combining the skills of teams from the disciplines of Ocean and Naval Architecture, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering, students were able to design and build a prototype of an autonomous surface vehicle whose main mission was to retrieve underwater gliders from the surface of the ocean. This project allows students to gain experience with interdisciplinary design, development and communication, which is necessary in the autonomous vehicle industry. The prototype will be handed over to senior students in the faculty every year allowing the vehicle to expand in terms of its capabilities and possible missions. This project has been under development for eight months during which the initial design of the vehicle was determined and various prototypes were developed and tested. As the project is handed over to future students they will be able to continue refining the design, creating a valuable addition to the Memorial University of Newfoundland autonomous vehicle fleet.